Hexagon AB is a global industrial technology company with a significant presence in the space industry, focusing on measurement and positioning systems. They provide geospatial tools, software, and services for various applications, including aerospace, defense, and infrastructure planning. Hexagon's technologies have supported space exploration since NASA's early moon landings, and they continue to drive innovation with solutions for manufacturing, autonomous mobility, and digital transformation. Key products include sensors, software, and platforms for geospatial data analysis, with major customers including government organizations and private companies in the aerospace sector.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The proposed configuration for HEXAGON would support four launches per year for continuous near-real-time capability.
The last HEXAGON launch occurred on April 20, 1986, using the Titan 34D rocket.
The HEXAGON program began in the mid-1960s as a replacement for the CORONA satellite.
Perkin-Elmer estimated that the HEXAGON satellite could only transmit for 38 minutes per orbit, allowing approximately 12 feet of film to be transmitted.
The first HEXAGON launch took place on June 15, 1971, followed by several more launches in the subsequent years.
The near-real-time capability of HEXAGON would rely on monoscopic imagery, unlike the stereoscopic imagery provided by its two main cameras.
A mapping camera was added to HEXAGON starting with its fifth launch in 1973.
The Titan 34D rocket carrying the last HEXAGON exploded shortly after launch, with debris damaging surrounding areas.
The HEXAGON satellite was designed and built by the Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut.
The last HEXAGON mission was intended to last 300 days with an additional 240 days allocated for its infrared S-Cubed camera.
HEXAGON was intended to carry a signals intelligence satellite mounted to its forward section that would be deployed in orbit.
HEXAGON was originally planned to launch in 1970 but was delayed by a year due to technical problems.
HEXAGON had two powerful cameras that spun in opposite directions and exposed long lengths of film.
A declassified document from 1976 referred to a program named RED SHIRT as a near-real-time film readout device for HEXAGON.
Perkin-Elmer had not yet conducted a detailed study for the proposed near-real-time capability for HEXAGON.
In late 1970, the Perkin-Elmer Corporation proposed to modify the HEXAGON film reconnaissance satellite for near-real-time reconnaissance.
The near-real-time module for HEXAGON would include a separate film supply, a film looper, an onboard film developer, and a data transmission system.
The third Kirov was photographed under construction by HEXAGON reconnaissance satellites in July 1984.
The HEXAGON program was declassified in 2011, with new details continuing to be declassified.
The HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite was concealed under the nose fairing of the Titan IIID.